I bought a secondhand desk but, having once sanded and painted a table, I only thought about sanding the desk down for about 2 minutes before just giving it a good clean and polish!
My partner is a woodworker, though not often big pieces of furniture. I also come from a family where picking up furniture in the side of road was common place (nothing haunted yet, thankfully), and restoring it was just part of the deal. I still own several pieces that were found and refinished, along with quite a few antiques that I've acquired mostly for free over the years.
The grain on your desk looks gorgeous! You did a great job, especially for your first time!
A small suggestion, which may it may not work for those stuck drawers, try sticking a piece of tape to the front leaving a tab, and using a bigger piece across that for reinforcement, and pulling on the drawer that way.
Other option is to gently screw a screw into the hole for the hardware, but not all the way in, and use a pair of pliers to pull on the screw.
And I agree, I bang my knees on the middle drawer more often than not. I like the storage, but not the bruises!
Enjoy your new desk, it is as beautiful as it is functional, and now it has a story, too!
You're brilliant; thank you! The tape worked on one drawer and the screw in the other. I had been trying to use one of those tiny screwdrivers to wedge them back out, but stopped for fear I would gash the wood.
I was surprised by how much more visible the grain became as I worked. I was very pleased, thank you!
I can see how woodworking is such a useful skill to have, and I understand now how people really get a bug for it. What type of work does your partner do?
I own a couple of heirloom family pieces, but none that have been refinished and they are among my favorites. But now that I've done this, I will be paying more attention for other finds. (And yes, hopefully nothing haunted.)
Oh, I'm so glad the tricks worked. Ask me how I know them 🤣🤣
He has a lathe and makes pens and bowls and things, plus he makes flags and decorative things.
He is in general very handy and can mostly build or fix just about anything. Some days I'm jealous lol
The grain often does come out more when a piece is refinished, which is always an exciting surprise to me! You just never quite know how it's going to turn out!
Looks like you did a great job! Especially since it was your first ever at this sort of thing! Hats off for saving it.
Thank you!! ❤️
I bought a secondhand desk but, having once sanded and painted a table, I only thought about sanding the desk down for about 2 minutes before just giving it a good clean and polish!
Totally understandable. It's really dusty work!
My partner is a woodworker, though not often big pieces of furniture. I also come from a family where picking up furniture in the side of road was common place (nothing haunted yet, thankfully), and restoring it was just part of the deal. I still own several pieces that were found and refinished, along with quite a few antiques that I've acquired mostly for free over the years.
The grain on your desk looks gorgeous! You did a great job, especially for your first time!
A small suggestion, which may it may not work for those stuck drawers, try sticking a piece of tape to the front leaving a tab, and using a bigger piece across that for reinforcement, and pulling on the drawer that way.
Other option is to gently screw a screw into the hole for the hardware, but not all the way in, and use a pair of pliers to pull on the screw.
And I agree, I bang my knees on the middle drawer more often than not. I like the storage, but not the bruises!
Enjoy your new desk, it is as beautiful as it is functional, and now it has a story, too!
You're brilliant; thank you! The tape worked on one drawer and the screw in the other. I had been trying to use one of those tiny screwdrivers to wedge them back out, but stopped for fear I would gash the wood.
I was surprised by how much more visible the grain became as I worked. I was very pleased, thank you!
I can see how woodworking is such a useful skill to have, and I understand now how people really get a bug for it. What type of work does your partner do?
I own a couple of heirloom family pieces, but none that have been refinished and they are among my favorites. But now that I've done this, I will be paying more attention for other finds. (And yes, hopefully nothing haunted.)
Oh, I'm so glad the tricks worked. Ask me how I know them 🤣🤣
He has a lathe and makes pens and bowls and things, plus he makes flags and decorative things.
He is in general very handy and can mostly build or fix just about anything. Some days I'm jealous lol
The grain often does come out more when a piece is refinished, which is always an exciting surprise to me! You just never quite know how it's going to turn out!
A handy person is such a good one to have around! I had a coworker who did projects like those, and I always liked to see what he was working on.
It is so much fun! (Other than the dust! 😂)
This was a great read. Congrats on your hard work in making your desk the space you want it to be. It looks terrific!
Thanks so much! I'm delighted with how it worked out.
A very enjoyable read! 😊
Thank you! <3